31 


5    SSE 

61 

1  S 
61 


PAGAN 
>RAYERS 


FACILIT 


MARAH  ELLIS  RYAN 


PAGAN      PRAYERS 


PAGAN  PRAYERS 

COLLECTED  BY 

MARAH  ELLIS  RYAN 


AUTHOR  OF 

FOR  THE  SOUL  OF  RAFAEL,  INDIAN 
LOVE  LETTERS,  ETC. 


CHICAGO 

A.  C.  McCLURG  &  CO. 

1913 


Copyright 

A.  C.  McCLURG  &  CO. 
1913 


Published  April,  1913 


The  Ralph  Fletcher  Seymour  Company 
Fine  Arts  Building,  Chicago 


PREFACE 


THIS  little  book  of  thoughts  big,  and 
thoughts  childish,  goes  to  the  reader 
with  the  hope  that  it  bears  the  little  known 
fact  that  Ancient  America  had  a  written 
aboriginal  literature — much  of  which  was 
beautiful. 

The  Apache  and  the  Navajo  prayers  are 
oral,  transmitted  from  priest  to  priest 
through  the  centuries;  but  the  Mexican  are 
fragments,  rescued  from  a  wide  literature  by 
the  learned  and  courageous  Franciscan, 
Bernardino  de  Sahagun,  in  the  Seventeenth 
century. 

The  first  archbishop  of  Mexico  took 
credit  to  himself  for  the  burning,  in  one 
town,  of  60,000  Mexican  books  and  manu- 
scripts on  history,  religion,  law,  medicine, 
astrology,  genealogy  and  poetry.  It  was 
his  part  of  the  approved  battle  against  the 
false  gods.  For  four  centuries  he  has  had 
ardent  imitators — which  accounts  for  much. 


The  masked,  dramatized  prayers  of  the 
Indians  of  the  Southwest  of  today,  suggested 
to  the  compiler  a  key  to  ancient  Mexican 
rituals  where  god  or  goddess  replies  directly 
to  priest  or  suppliant.  This  is  the  one 
special  liberty  taken  with  the  records — the 
deity  or  priest  is  placed  as  the  Indian  places 
him,  in  the  temple  of  feast  or  sacrifice; 
while  the  Spanish  records  gave  only  the 
spoken  words  with  little  to  indicate  the 
ritual  or  the  speakers. 

The  Peruvian  had  reached  a  higher 
spiritual  and  philosophic  stage  of  culture 
before  his  annihilation,  though  at  loss  of  the 
spontaneous  poetic  imagery,  wistful  or 
colorful,  of  the  Mexican. 

Such  as  they  are,  these  prayers  reflect  the 
culture  of  both  extinct  and  living  primitive 
peoples  of  the  world  we  call  the  New,  and 
they  go  out  for  judgment  side  by  side  with 
the  better  known  rituals  of  the  world  we  call 
the  Old. 

M.  E.  R. 


CONTENTS 

PREFACE      

ON  THE  WRITING  OF  A  PRAYER  OF 
PRAISE 

(Mexican) 
To  THE  CREATIVE  GOD     .... 

(Accadian) 
APACHE  PRAYER     .     .     . 

(American) 
NAVAJO  LITURGY 

(American) 
ADDRESS  TO  SUPREME  DEITY 

(Assyrian) 
A  PRAYER  FOR  THE  DYING     . 

(Assyrian) 

BABYLONIAN  PRAYER  FOR  HEALTH   . 
PRAYER  TO  THE  SUN 

(Chaldean) 
MAGICAL  INCANTATION     .... 

(Chaldean) 

CHINESE  LITURGY 

CHINESE  PRAYER 

PRAYER  OF  TRANSFORMATION  INTO  A 
LOTUS      

(Egyptian) 

A   PRAYER   FOR   PRESERVATION  OF 
THE  HEART 

(Egyptian) 
HYMN  TO  AMUN-RA 

(Egyptian) 
PRAYER  OF  THE  SOWER     .... 

(Finnish) 
HYMN  TO  PANU 

(Finnish) 


THE  SALUTATION  OF  THE  DAWN 

(Hindu) 
PRAYER  TO  BUDDHA 

(Hindu) 
HYMN  TO  AGNI 

(Hindu) 
PRAYER  OF  THE  GAMBLER      .     . 

(Hindu) 
PRAYER  TO  KAMI-DANA    .... 

(Japanese) 
PRAYER  OF  THE  SINGER    .    ,*;     . 

(Mexican) 
HYMN  OF  TLA-LOC 

(Mexican) 
HYMN  TO  THE  ALL-MOTHER  . 

(Mexican) 
HYMN  OF  THE  GOD  OF  FLOWERS 

(Mexican) 
PRAYERTO THE  MEXICAN  GOD  OF  FIRE 

(Mexican) 
THE  PRAYER  OF  THE  MAIZE  . 

(Mexican) 
HYMN  TO  CIHUA-COATL    .... 

(Mexican) 
PRAYER  TO  THE  GOD  OF  THIEVES 

(South  Pacific  Island) 
INVOCATION  TO  ORMAZD    .... 

(Persian) 
MOHAMMEDAN  PRAYER  OF  ADORATION 

(Persian) 
AN  INCA'S  DEATH  PRAYER     .     . 

(Peruvian) 
HYMN  TO  THE  UNKNOWN  GOD 

(Peruvian) 
BIBLIOGRAPHY  . 


PAG  A  N    PRAY  E  R  S 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


ON  THE  WRITING  OF  A 
PRAYER  OF  PRAISE 

(Mexican) 


(This  introduction  to  a  volume  of  annals,  written 
centuries  ago  by  an  unknown  poet  of  ancient  America, 
gives  glimpse  of  the  beauty  of  the  native  book  craft, 
and  the  sacredness  to  them,  of  literature) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


LIKE  a  red-winged  heron  of  won- 
der, rising  in  flight,  it  shone. 

The  mist  and  the  glow  of  the  rain- 
bow, it  is  there ! 

The  harmony  is  as  the  tinkling  tur- 
quoise bells  on  the  silver  drum: 
thus  was  a  book  of  anoals  written 
and  painted  in  colors. 

I  unwind  my  song! 

I  unwind  my  song  like  a  string  of 
jewels,  all  precious. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


TO  THE  CREATIVE  GOD 

(Accadian) 


(The  Accadian  was  already  a  dead  language  in  the 
Seventeenth  Century,  B.  C.) 


OLORD  of  Charms,  Illustrious! 
who  gives 
Life  to  the  Dead,  the  Merciful  who 

lives, 

And  grants  to  hostile  gods  of  Heaven 
return, 

To  homage  render,  worship  thee,  and 

learn 
Obedience! 

Thou  who  didst  create  mankind 
In  tenderness,  thy  love  round  us,  oh 

wind ! 
The  Merciful,  the  God  with  whom 

is  Life 

Establish  us,  O  Lord,  in  darkest  strife 
O  never  may  thy  truth  forgotten  be. 
May  Accad's  race  forever  worship 

thee! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


APACHE  PRAYER 

(American) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


STENATLIHAN,  You  are  good! 
I  pray  for  a  long  life. 
I  pray  for  your  good  looks. 
I  pray  for  good  breath. 
I  pray  for  good  speech. 

I  pray  for  feet  like  yours  to  carry  me 
through  a  long  life. 

I  pray  for  a  life  like  yours. 

I  walk  with  people,  ahead  of  me  all 
is  well. 

I  pray  for  people  to  smile  as  long  as 
I  live. 

I  pray  to  live  long. 

I  pray,  I  say,  for  a  long  life  to  live 
with  you  where  the  good  people  are. 

I  live  in  poverty. 

I  wish  the  people  there  to  speak  of 
goodness  and  to  talk  to  me. 

I  wish  you  to  divide  yourgood  things 
with  me,  as  a  brother. 

Ahead  of  me  is  goodness,  lead  me  on. 

(Stenatlihan  is  the  supreme  sky  goddess) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


NAVAJO  LITURGY 

(American) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


OH   YOU! 
Who  dwell  in  the  house  made 
of  the  Dawn. 

In  the  home  of  evening  twilight. 
In  the  house  made  of  dark  cloud, 
In  the  house  made  of  the  he  rains, 
In  the  house  made  of  the  dark  mist, 
In  the  house  made  of  the  she  rain, 
In  the  house  made  of  peace; 

Where  the  dark  mist  curtains  the 
door 

The  path  to  which  is  on  the  rainbow, 
Where  the  zig-zag  lightning  on  high 

it  stands 
Male  deity  divine ! 

With  your  moccasins  of  dark  cloud, 
come  to  us! 

With  your  headdress  of  dark  cloud, 
come  to  us! 

With  clouds  dark,  your  mind  en- 
veloping, come  to  us! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


NAVAJO  LITURGY 

(Continued) 


PAGAN      PRAYERS 


You  above  thunder  dark,  high-fly- 
ing, come  to  us ! 

With  cloud  having  shape  at  your 
feet,  high-flying,  come  to  us! 

With  the  dark  cloud  over  your  head 
made  of  far  darkness,  high-flying, 
come  to  us ! 

With  the  far  darkness  made  of  the  he 
rain  over  your  head,  high-flying, 
come  to  us ! 

With  your  head  over  mist-dark  made 
of  far  darkness,  high-flying,  come 
to  us! 

With  the  she  rain  over  your  head, 
made  of  far  darkness,  high-flying, 
come  to  us ! 

With  your  head  over  zig-zag  light- 
ning far  out-flung,  high-flying, 
come  to  us! 

With  your  head  over  far  hanging 
rainbow,  high-flying,  come  to  us! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


NAVAJO  LITURGY 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


With   clouds   dark  on   the   ends  of 

your  wings,  made  of  far  darkness, 

high-flying,  come  to  us. 
With  the  far  darkness  made  of  the 

he  rain  on  the  ends  of  your  wings, 

high-flying,  corne  to  us! 
With  the  dark  mist  on  the  ends  of 

your  wings,  made  of  far  darkness, 

high-flying,  come  to  us! 
With  the  far  darkness  made  of  the 

she    rain    on    the    ends    of   your 

wings,  high-flying,  come  to  us! 
With    zig-zag    lightning    flung    out 

afar  on  the  ends  of  your  wings, 

high-flying,  come  to  us ! 
With  the  rainbow  hanging  far  on  the 

ends  of  your  wings,   high-flying, 

come  to  us! 
With   the   near   darkness   made   of 

dark  cloud,  of  he   rain,   of  dark 

mist,  of  she  rain,  high-flying,  come 

to  us! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


NAVAJO  LITURGY 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


In  the  earth  darkness  come  to  us! 

With  these  also  the  foam  to  float 
on  the  flowing  water  over  the  roots 
of  the  great  corn,  that  I  wish. 

Your  sacrifice  I  have  made, 

For  you  the  smoke  have  I  prepared. 

My  feet  for  me  restore, 

My  body  for  me  restore, 

My  mind  for  me  restore, 

My  voice  for  me  restore, 

This  day  your  spell  from  me  take 

out, 
This  day  your  spell  for  me  remove! 

Away  from  me  you  have  taken  it ! 
Far  off  from  me  it  is  taken ! 
Far  off  you  have  done  it. 

In  a  way  of  beauty  I  recover, 
Happily  my  eyes  regain  their  power, 
Happily  for  me  the  spell  is  taken  off, 
Imperious  to  pain  I  walk, 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


NAVAJO  LITURGY 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


Feeling  light  within,  I  walk, 

Thus  happily  you  accomplish  your 

tasks. 

Happily  the  old  men  will  regard  you, 
Happily  the  children  will  regard  you, 
Happily  as  they  approach  their 

homes  they  will  regard  you. 
Happily  may  their  trails  home  be 

in  the  way  of  peace. 
Happily  may  all  return! 
With  beauty  before  me  I  walk. 
With  beauty  above  me  I  walk. 
With  beauty  it  is  finished! 
With  beauty  again  it  is  finished ! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


ADDRESS  TO  SUPREME  DEITY 

(Assyrian) 


PAGAN      PRAYERS 


IN    HEAVENS    who     is    great? 
Thou  alone  art  great ! 
On  earth  who  is  great?  Thou  alone 

art  great! 
When  thy  voice  resounds  in  heaven, 

the  gods  fall  prostrate ! 
When  thy  voice  resounds  on  earth, 
the  genii  kiss  the  dust! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


A   PRAYER    FOR  THE   DYING 

(Assyrian) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


IND  the  sick  man  to  Heaven, 
for    from    Earth   he   is   being 
torn  away! 

Of  the  brave  man  who  was  so 
strong,  his  strength  has  departed. 

Of  the  righteous  servant,  the  force 
does  not  return, 

In  his  bodily  frame  he  lies  danger- 
ously ill. 

But  Ishtar,  who  in  her  dwelling,  is 
grieved  concerning  him,  descends 
from  her  mountain  unvisited  of 
men. 

To  the  door  of  the  sick  man  she 
comes. 

The  sick  man  listens! 
Who  is  there  ?    Who  comes  ? 

It  is  Ishtar,  daughter  of  the  Moon 
God! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


A   PRAYER   FOR  THE   DYING 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


Like  pure  silver  may  his  garment 

be  shining  white ! 
Like  brass  may  he  be  radiant! 
To  the  Sun,  greatest  of   the  gods, 

may  he  ascend ! 
And  may  the  Sun,  greatest  of  the 

gods,    receive   his   soul   into   his 

holy  hands ! 


BABYLONIAN  PRAYER  FOR 
HEALTH 

(Exorcism  of  Spirits  of  Disease) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


Tablet  I 

THE   noxious  god,   the   noxious 
spirit  of  the  neck,  the  neck- 
spirit  of  the  desert,  the  neck-spirit 
of   the    mountains,   the  neck-spirit 
of  the   sea,   the   neck-spirit  of  the 
morass,  the  noxious  spirit  of  the  city, 
this  noxious  wind  which  seizes  the 
body  and  the  health  of  the  body. 
Spirit  of  Heaven,  remember!  Spirit 
of  Earth,  remember! 

Tablet  V 

He  who  makes  an  image  which 
injures  the  man,  an  evil  face,  an  evil 
eye,  an  evil  mouth,  an  evil  tongue, 
evil  lips,  an  evil  poison. 

Spirit  of  Heaven,  remember!  Spirit 
of  Earth,  remember! 

Tablet  VI 

The  cruel  spirit,  the  strong  spirit 
of  the  head,  the  head-spirit  that 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


BABYLONIAN  PRAYER   FOR 
HEALTH 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


departs  not,  the  head-spirit  that  goes 
not  forth,  the  head-spirit  that  will 
not  go,  the  noxious  head  spirit. 

Spirit  of  Heaven,  remember!  Spirit 
of  Earth,  remember! 

Tablet  VIII 

May  Nin-cigal,  the  wife  of 
Nin-a'su,  turn  her  face  toward  an- 
other place;  may  the  noxious  spirit 
go  forth  and  seize  another.  May 
the  propitious  spirit  and  the  pro- 
pitious genii  settle  upon  his  body. 

Spirit  of  Heaven,  remember!  Spirit 
of  Earth,  remember! 

Tablet  IX 

May  Nebs,  the  great  steward,  the 
recliner  supreme  among  the  gods, 
like  the  god  who  has  begotten  him, 
seize  upon  his  head;  against  his  life 
may  he  not  break  forth. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


BABYLONIAN  PRAYER   FOR 
HEALTH 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


Spirit  of  Heaven,  remember!  Spirit 
of  Earth,  remember! 

Tablet  X 

On  the  sick  man  by  the  sacrifice 
of  mercy  may  perfect  health  shine 
like  bronze;  may  the  Sun-god  give 
this  man  life;  may  Merodach,  the 
eldest  son  of  the  deep,  give  him 
strength,  prosperity  and  health. 

Spirit  of  Heaven,  remember!  Spirit 
of  Earth,  remember! 


(Nin-cigal — The  Goddess  of  the  House  of  Death) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


PRAYER  TO  THE  SUN 

(Chaldean) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


THE   LORD  has  sent  me; 
the  great  god  Hea,  has  sent  me. 

Thou,  in  thy  course  thou  directest 
the  human  race 

Cast  upon  him  a  ray  of  peace,  and 
let  it  cure  his  suffering. 

The  man,  son  of  his  god,  has  laid 
before  him  his  shortcomings  and 
transgressions;  his  feet  and  hands 
are  in  pain,  grievously  defiled  by 
disease. 

Sun,  to  the  lifting  up  of  my  hands 
pay  attention;  eat  his  food,  receive 
the  victim,  give  his  god,  for  a 
support,  to  his  hand! 

By  his  order  let  his  shortcomings  be 
pardoned!  Let  his  transgressions 
be  blotted  out! 

May  his  troubles  leave  him!  May 
he  recover  from  his  disease! 

Give  back  life  to  the  King! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


PRAYER  TO  THE  SUN 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


Then,  on  the  day  that  he  revives, 
may  thy  sublimity  envelop  him! 

Direct  the  King  who  is  in  subjection 
to  thee ! 

And  me,  the  magician,  thy  humble 
servant,  direct  me! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


I  HAVE  invoked  thee,  O  Sun,  in 
the  midst  of  the  high  heavens. 

Thou  art  in  the  shadow  of  the  cedar, 
and  thy  feet  rest  on  the  summits. 

The  countries  have  called  thee  eager- 
ly, they  have  directed  their  looks 
towards  thee, 

O  Friend,  thy  brilliant  light  illumi- 
nates every  land,  overthrowing 
all  that  impedes  thee,  assemble 
the  countries,  for  thou,  O  Sun, 
knowest  their  boundaries. 

Thou  who  annihilatest  falsehood, 
who  dissipated  the  evil  influence 
of  wonders,  omens,  sorceries, 
dreams,  evil  apparitions,  who  turn- 
est  to  a  happy  issue  malicious 
designs,  who  annihilatest  men  and 
countries  that  devote  themselves 
to  fatal  sorceries,  I  have  taken 
refuge  in  thy  presence. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


MAGICAL  INCANTATION 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


Do  not  allow  those  who  make  spells, 

and  are  hardened,  to  arise. 
Frighten  their  heart, 
Settle  also,  O  Sun,  light  of  the  great 

gods 
Right  into  my  marrow,  O  Lords  of 

breath,  that  I  may  rejoice,  even  I. 
May  the  gods  who  created  me  take 

my  hands! 

Direct  the  breath  of  my  mouth! 
My  hands  direct  them  also,  Lord, 

light  of  the  legions  of  the  heavens. 
Sun, O  Judge! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


CHINESE  LITURGY 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


ONE  in  spirit, 
We  invoke  thee ! 

Hail,  Amit-abha  of  the  world ! 

O  would  that  our  merciful  teacher, 
Sakya-muni. 

And  our  great  Father  Amit-abha 

Would  now  descend  and  be  present 
with  us. 

Would  that  the  perfect  compassion- 
ate heart  would  now  draw  near 

And  receive  our  offerings. 

May    the    omnipotent   and   omnis- 
cient Holy  Spirit 

Come  to  us  while  we  recite  these 
divine  sentences. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


CHINESE   PRAYER 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


I  THE  EMPEROR,  have  respect- 
fully prepared  this  paper  to 
inform  the  spirit  of  the  sun,  the 
spirit  of  the  moon,  the  spirits  of 
the  five  planets,  of  the  stars,  of 
the  clouds,  of  the  four  seas,  of  the 
great  rivers,  of  the  present  year, 

That  on  the  first  of  next  month  we 
shall  reverently  lead  our  officers 
and  people  to  honor  the  great 
name  of  Shang-Ti. 

We  inform  you  beforehand,  O  ye 
celestial  and  terrestrial  spirits,  and 
will  trouble  you  on  our  behalf, 
to  exert  your  spiritual  power,  and 
display  your  vigorous  efficacy, 
communicating  our  poor  desire  to 
Shang-Ti,  praying  him  to  accept 
our  worship,  and  be  pleased  with 
the  new  title  which  we  shall 
reverently  present  to  him. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


CHINESE  PRAYER 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


Thou,  O  Ti,  didst  open  the  way  for 

the  forces  of  matter  to  operate ; 
Thou,  O  Spirit,  didst  produce  the 

beautiful   light   of  the    sun    and 

moon,  that  all  thy  creatures  might 

be  happy. 
Thou  hast  vouchsafed  to  hear  us, 

O  Ti,  for  thou  regardest  us  as  thy 

children. 
I,  thy  child,  dull  and  ignorant,  can 

poorly  express  my  feelings. 
Honorable  is  thy  great  name! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


PRAYER  OF  TRANSFORMA- 
TION INTO  A  LOTUS 

(Egyptian) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


HAIL,  thou  lotus!  Thou  type 
of  the  god  Nefer-Temu! 

I  am  the  man  that  knoweth  you, 
and  I  know  your  names  among  those 
of  the  gods,  the  lords  of  the  under- 
world, and  I  am  one  of  you. 

Grant  ye  that  I  may  see  the  gods 
who  are  the  divine  guides  in  the 
underworld,  and  grant  ye  unto  me 
a  place  in  the  underworld  near  unto 
the  lords  of  Amentet. 

Let  me  arrive  at  a  habitation  in 
the  land  of  Tchesert,  and  receive  me, 
O  all  ye  gods,  in  the  presence  of  the 
lords  of  eternity! 

Grant  that  my  soul  may  come 
forth  whithersoever  it  pleaseth,  and 
let  it  not  be  driven  away  from  the 
presence  of  the  great  company  of  the 
gods! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


A    PRAYER    FOR    PRESERVA- 
TION OF  THE  HEART 

(Egyptian) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


MY  HEART,   my  mother;    my 
heart,  my  mother! 
My  heart  of  my  existence  upon 
earth! 

May  naught  stand  up  to  oppose 
me  in  judgment;  may  there  be  no 
opposition  to  me  in  the  presence  of 
the  sovereign  princes;  may  no  evil 
be  wrought  against  me  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  gods;  may  there  be  no 
parting  of  thee  from  me  in  the 
presence  of  the  great  god,  the  lord 
of  Amentet. 

Homage  to  thee,  O  thou  heart  of 
Osiris — khent — Amentet !  Homage  to 
you,  O  my  reins!  Homage  to  you, 
O  ye  gods  who  dwell  in  the  divine 
clouds,  and  who  are  exalted  [or 
holy]  by  reason  of  your  sceptres! 

Speak  ye  fair  words  for  the  Osiris 
Auf-ankh,  and  make  ye  him  to 
prosper  before  Nehebka.  And  be- 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


A    PRAYER    FOR    PRESERVA- 
TION OF  THE  HEART 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


hold,  though  I  be  joined  to  the  earth, 
and  am  in  the  mighty  innermost 
part  of  heaven,  let  me  remain  on  the 
earth  and  not  die  in  Amentet,  and 
let  me  remain  a  khu  therein  for  ever 
and  ever! 

This  prayer  shall  be  recited  over  a 
basalt  scarab,  which  shall  be  set  in  a  gold 
setting,  and  it  shall  be  placed  inside  the 
heart  of  the  man  (i.  e.,  the  dead)  for 
whom  the  ceremonies  of  "opening  the 
mouth"  and  of  anointing  with  unguent 
have  been  performed. 

And  there  shall  be  recited  by  way  of 
magical  charm  the  words: 

"My  heart,  my  mother!  my  heart, 
my  mother!  My  heart  of  transfor- 
mations!" 


(Khu,  a  god  of  light) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


HYMN  TO  AMUN-RA 

(Egyptian) 


PAGAN      PRAYERS 


HAIL  to  thee,  Amun-Ra,  Lord  of 
the  thrones  of  the  earth,  the 
oldest  existence,  ancient  of  heaven, 
support  of  all  things ; 

Chief  of  the  gods,  lord  of  truth; 
father  of  the  gods,  maker  of  men 
and  beasts  and  herbs;  maker  of 
all  things  above  and  below; 

Deliverer  of  the  sufferer  and  op- 
pressed, judging  the  poor; 

Lord  of  wisdom,  lord  of  mercy; 
most  loving,  opener  of  every  eye, 
source  of  joy,  in  whose  goodness 
the  gods  rejoice,  thou  whose  name 
is  hidden. 

Thou  art  the  one,  maker  of  all  that 
is,  the  one;  the  only  one;  maker  of 
gods  and  men;  giving  food  to  all. 

Hail  to  thee,  thou  one  with  many 
heads;  sleepless  when  all  others 
sleep,  adoration  to  thee. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


HYMN  TO  AMUN-RA 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


Hail  to  thee  from  all  creatures  from 
every  land,  from  the  height  of 
heaven,  from  the  depth  of  the  sea. 

The  spirits  thou  hast  made  extol 
thee,  saying,  welcome  to  thee, 
father  of  the  fathers  of  the  gods; 
we  worship  thy  spirit  which  is  in 
us. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


PRAYER  OF  THE  SOWER 

(Finnish) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


BLESSING  to  the  seed  I  scatter, 
Where  it  falls  upon  the  meadow, 
By  the  grace  of  Ukko  mighty, 
Through  the  open  finger  spaces 
Of  the  hand  that  all  things  fashioned. 
Queen  of  meadow-land  and  pasture ! 
Bid  the  earth  unlock  her  treasures. 
Bid  the  soil  the  young  seed  nourish, 
Never  shall  their  teeming  forces 
Never  shall  their  strength  prolific 
Fail  to  nourish  and  sustain  us 
If  the  Daughters  of  Creation, 
They,  the  free  and  bounteous  givers 
Still  extend  their  gracious  favor 
Offer  still  their  strong  protection. 
Rise,    O    Earth!    from    out    thy 

slumbers 
Bid  the  soil  unlock  her  treasures! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


HYMN  TO  PANU 

(Finnish) 


(Panu,  God  of  fire,  child  of  the  Sun-mother) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


OPANU, 
Son  of  the  Sun! 

Offspring  thou  of  the  dear  day. 
Lift  the  fire  up  to  the  sky. 
In  the  middle  of  the  golden  ring, 
Within  the  rock  of  copper, 
Carry  it  as  a  child  to  its  mother 
Into  the  lap  of  the  ancient  mother. 
Place  the  fire  to  shine  by  day, 
And  to  rest  at  night. 
Let  it  rise  every  morning! 
Let  it  rest  every  evening! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


THE  SALUTATION  OF  THE 
DAWN 

(Hindu) 


PAGAN      PRAYERS 


LISTEN   to   the   exhortation    of 
the  Dawn ! 
Look  to  this  Day!     For  it  is  Life, 

The  very  Life  of  Life. 
In  its  brief  course  lie  all  the  Varieties 
And  Realities  of  your  Existence; 

The  Bliss  of  Growth, 

The  Glory  of  Action, 

The  Splendor  of  Beauty; 
For  Yesterday  is  but  a  Dream, 
And  To-morrow  is  only  a  Vision ; 

But  To-day  well  lived 
Makes  every  Yesterday  a  Dream  of 

Happiness, 
And  every  To-morrow  a  Vision  of 

Hope. 

Look  well  therefore  to  this  Day! 
Such  is  the  Salutation  of  the  Dawn. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


PRAYER  TO  BUDDHA 

(Hindu) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


THOU    in    whom    innumerable 
creatures  believe ! 
Thou,  Buddha,  Victor  over  the  hosts 

of  evil ! 
Thou,  all-wise  Being,  come  down  to 

our  world ! 

Made  perfect  and  glorified  by  in- 
numerable   by-gone    revolutions ; 

always    pitiful,    always    gracious 

toward  all  creatures ! 
Look  down  upon  us;  for  the  time 

has  come  to  pour  out  blessings  on 

all  creatures. 
Be  gracious  to  us  from  thy  throne 

built  in  thy  heavenly  world. 
Thou  art  the  eternal  redemption  of 

all  creatures,  therefore  bow  down 

to    us    with    all    thy    unstained 

heavenly  societies. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


HYMN  TO  AGNI 

(Hindu) 


(Agni,  god  of  fire  in  every  form,  worshipped  in 
every  manifestation  —  sun,  lightning,  earth,  fire  — 
also  adored  as  the  spark  of  life  in  all  of  growth,  is  here 
invoked  as  both  the  sacred  flame  on  the  altar,  and  the 
highest  priest  officiating) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


I  IMPLORE  Agni,  the  chief  priest, 
the  divine  minister  of  the  sacri- 
fice, the  Hotri  priest,  the  best  giver 
of  wealth. 

Agni,  worthy  to  be  implored  by 
former  poets  and  by  new,  may  he 
bring  the  gods  hither! 

Through  Agni  man  gained  wealth, 
satisfying  even  day  by  day,  glorious 
wealth  of  vigorous  kindred. 

Agni,  the  offering  which  thou  en- 
circlest  on  all  sides,  that  alone  goes 
to  the  gods. 

Agni,  the  Hotri  priest,  the  wise 
counsellor,  the  truthful,  the  most 
glorious,  may  he,  the  God,  come 
with  the  gods! 

Whatever  wealth  thou,  Agni,  shalt 
bestow  on  the  sacrificer,  thine  it  will 
be,  forsooth,  Agni. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


HYMN  TO  AGNI 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


To  thee,  O  Agni,  we  come  day  by 
day,  bringing  praise  in  mind,  O 
Illuminator  of  Darkness! 

To  thee,  the  Lord  of  sacrifices, 
the  bright  Guarder  of  the  Law,  who 
art  growing  in  thy  own  house. 

Thou  then,  O  Agni,  be  gracious 
to  us  like  as  a  father  to  his  son ;  stay 
with  us  for  our  welfare! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


PRAYER    OF    THE    GAMBLER 

(Hindu} 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


THESE  dice  that  have  grown 
in  the  air  on  the  great  Vibhi- 
daka  tree,  drive  me  wild  when  they 
roll  on  the  board!  This  Vibhidaka 
seems  to  me  intoxicating  like  a 
draught  of  Soma  that  has  grown  on 
Mount  Mugovat. 

When  I  think  that  I  shall  not  play 
with  them  again,  then  am  I  left  by 
my  friends  who  go  afar.  But  when 
the  brown  dice  are  thrown  down  and 
utter  speech,  then  I  rush  to  their 
rendezvous,  like  a  love-sick  maid. 

These  dice  hook,  prick,  undo, 
burn  and  inflame.  After  the  gift 
of  childish  playthings  they  ruin  the 
winner;  yet  to  the  gambler  they  are 
covered  with  honey. 

They  do  not  bend  before  the 
anger  of  the  mighty,  even  the  king 
bends  down  before  them. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


PRAYER    OF    THE    GAMBLER 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


Though  having  no  hands,  they 
resist  him  who  has  hands.  These 
playing  coals,  though  cold,  when 
thrown  on  the  board,  burn  the  heart 
through  and  through ! 

Make  other  friends,  O  dice — have 
mercy  on  us!  Do  not  bewitch  us 
with  powerful  enchantment!  May 
your  wrath  abate,  and  your  enmity — 
let  some  one  else  be  held  in  the 
power  of  the  brown  dice ! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


PRAYER  TO  KAMI-DANA 

(Japanese) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


REVERENTLY  adoring  the 
great  god  of  the  two  palaces 
of  Ise, 

and  the  gods  of  the  branch 

temples  and  branch  palaces,  and 
Sohodo  no  kami,  whom  I  have 
invited  to  the  shrine  set  upon 
this  divine  altar,  and  to  whom 
I  offer  praises  day  by  day. 

I  pray  with  awe  that  they  will  deign 
to  correct  the  unwitting  faults, 
which,  heard  and  seen  by  them, 
I  have  committed,  and  blessing 
and  favoring  me  according  to  the 
powers  which  they  severally  wield, 
cause  me  to  follow  the  divine  ex- 
ample and  to  perform  good  works 
in  the  Way. 


(The  House  God) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


PRAYER  OF  THE  SINGER 

(Mexican) 


PAGAN      PRAYERS 


IN  THE  place  of  tears,  I,  the 
singer,  watch  my  flowers,  they 
enthrall  my  spirit  as  I  walk  alone 
with  them  —  My  spirit  sad  amid 
the  flowers. 

In  this  spot  where  the  herbage  is  as 
sweet  ointment,  and  green  as  the 
turquoise  and  emerald,  I  dream 
of  a  song  of  beauty  while  the 
blossoms  of  beauty  are  in  my 
hand! 

Let  us  rejoice  now,  O  friends!  O 
children !  For  the  life  of  the  earth- 
born  is  not  long  upon  earth. 

I  now  go  forth  in  swiftness — to  the 
sweet  songs  I  go  forth — to  the 
flowers  of  fragrance,  O  friends! 
O  children! 

O  he!  I  sang  aloud,  0  he!  I 
rained  song  blossoms  as  I  sped! 

Let  us  go  forth  to  the  four  ways! 
I,  the  singer,  shall  find  and  bring 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


PRAYER  OF  THE  SINGER 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


forth  the  flowers.  Let  us  be  glad 
while  we  live — hark  to  my  song 
of  joy! 

I,  the  poet,  cry  out  a  song  for  a  place 
of  joy — a  radiant  song  which 
descends  to  the  Underworld,  and 
there  turns  and  echoes  back  to 
you! 

I  seek  neither  vestments  or  riches, 
O  friends!  O  children!  but  a 
song  for  a  place  of  joy!" 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


HYMN  OF  TLA-LOC 

(Mexican) 


(Tla-loc  is  the  God  of  Storms.  He  dwells  in  Tlalo- 
can  where  the  spirits  of  the  elements  toss  the  balls  of 
thunder,  and  cast  the  reeds  of  lightning.  This  is  a 
masked  dramatized  ceremony  to  the  rain  god) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


Priests 

TO  OUR  land  the  god  appears! 
His   banner   unfolds   to   the 
Four  Ways  and  no  one  weeps!" 

Tla-loc 

"I,  the  god,  have  returned  again! 
I  have  turned  again  to  the  place 
of  abundance  of  sacrifices.  West- 
ward, when  the  day  grows  old  I 
am  beheld  as  a  god." 

High  Priest 

"Thy  work  is  that  of  a  magician 
divine!  Truly  thou  hast  made 
thyself  to  be  of  our  flesh.  Thou 
hast  made  thyself,  and  who  dare 
affront  thee?" 

Tla-loc 

"Truly  he  who  affronts  me  faces  the 
dangers;  My  fathers  took  by  the 
heads  the  tigers  and  serpents!" 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


HYMN  OF  TLA-LOC 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


Priests 

"In  Tla-locan,  the  Place  of  the 
Divine,  they  play  at  ball!  They 
cast  the  reeds!" 

High  Priest  to  Devotees 
"Go  forth!    Go  forth  to  where  the 
clouds    are    spread — where    the 
thick  mist  marks  the  cloudy  house 
ofTla-loc!" 

Tla-loc 

"Go  ye  out  to  seek  me!  Seek  for 
the  voice  I  send  forth  as  I  rise — 
a  terrible  god — a  cry  on  the 
winds!" 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


HYMN  TO  THE  ALL-MOTHER 

(Mexican) 


(This  goddess  is  Teteo-inan,  the  "Mother  of  Gods" 
— also  known  by  another  name  meaning  "Heart  of  the 
Earth."  Her  chief  temple  was  on  the  spot  selected  by 
the  early  missionaries  for  the  "Lady  of  Guadaloupe" 
to  make  her  appearance,  and  the  native  shrine  was 
razed  to  make  way  for  the  temple  of  the  imported 
cult  of  Christendom) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


HAIL  to  our  Mother  who  makes 
the  yellow  flowers  to  bloom— 
who    scatters    the    seeds    of   the 
maguey  as  she  comes  from  the 
Land  Divine! 

Hail  to  our  Mother  who  casts  forth 
white  flowers  in  abundance ! 

Hail  to  our  Mother  who  shines  in 
the  thorn  bush  as  a  bright  butter- 
fly! 

Ho !  She  is  our  Mother — the  woman 
god  of  the  earth.  In  the  desert 
she  feeds  the  wild  beasts,  and 
gives  them  to  live. 

Thus — thus  you  see  her  ever  abun- 
dant in  gifts  to  all  flesh. 

And  as  you  see  the  goddess  of  earth 
give  to  the  beasts,  so  also  she  is 
giving  to  the  green  herbs  and  the 
fishes. 

Hail  to  our  Mother  who  casts  forth 
yellow  flowers  to  the  sun  from  the 
Land  Divine! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


HYMN  OF  THE  GOD  OF 
FLOWERS 

(Mexican) 


(High  Priest,  masked  as  the  god,  chants) 

(Kin-teotl — God  of  maize) 
(Tla-loc — God  of  storms  and  the  wide  plains) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


O  FRIENDS!    The   quetzal 
bird   sings — it  sings   its  song 

at  midnight  to  Kin-teotl. 
The  god  now  hears  my  song  by  night, 

he  will  hear  my  song  as  the  night 

brings  in  the  dawn. 
I  send  forth  the  priests  to  the  house 

of  Tla-loc. 
The  priests  to  the  house  of  Tla-loc 

do  I  send  forth. 
I   shall  go  forth   to  the   plains.     I 

shall  join  myself  to  them.     I  shall 

go   where    is    Kin-teotl.     I    shall 

follow  the  trail  to  him. 
The  priests  go  forth  to  the  house  of 

Tla-loc,  to  the  home  of  the  god 

of  the  plains! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


PRAYER  TO  THE  MEXICAN 
GOD  OF  FIRE 

(Mexican) 


(A  victim  is  sacrificed  for  rain  in  the  temple  of  the 
Earth  Fire — a  crater  of  a  volcano) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


Victim 

"TN  THE  Hall   of   Flame  let  me 
JL  not  put  to  shame  my  ancestors; 
decending  there  let  me  not   put 
you  to  shame! 

"I  fasten  a  rope  to  the  sacred  tree. 
I  twist  it  in  eight  folds,  that  by 
it,  I,  a  magician,  may  descend  to 
the  magical  house." 
Priests 

"Begin  your  song  in  the  Hall  of 
Flames!  Begin  your  song  in  the 
Hall  of  Flames!"" 

Devotees 

"Why  does  not  the  magician  come 

forth? 
Why  does  he  not  rise  up?" 

Priests 
"Let  his  subjects  assist  in  the  Hall 

of  Flames! 

He  appears!  He  appears!  Let  his 
subjects  assist!" 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


PRAYER    TO   THE    MEXICAN 
GOD    OF    FIRE 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


"Let  his  servants   never  cease  the 
song   of   the    Hall    of    Flames  — 
let  them  rejoice  greatly — let  them 
dance  wonderfully! 

(To  the  victim) 

Call  ye  for  the  Woman  with  Abun- 
dant Hair,  whose  care  is  the  Mist 
and  the  Rain;  call  ye  for  Her!" 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


THE  PRAYER  OF  THE  MAIZE 

(Mexican) 


(This  is  a  conventional  ceremony  where  a  high 
priest,  masked,  personates  Kin-teotl,  god  of  the  maize. 
An  altar  priest  chants  of  the  loves  and  greatness  of  the 
gods,  but  with  an  earthly  love  in  his  heart  for  a  vestal 
who  personates  the  goddess  of  art  in  a  similar  ceremony 
at  the  adjacent  temple  of  Cholula) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


T 


Priest 

(Placing  flowers  of  the  field  on  shrine) 

HE     FLOWER  in    my    heart 
blossoms,  sweetness  it  brings 
in  the  night ! 

Our  mother  has  loved.  The  god- 
dess of  love  has  scattered  flowers 
of  fragrance!'' 

Kin-teotl 

"I,  Kin-teotl,  god  of  the  grain,  am 
as  a  flower — a  flower  ever  renew- 
ing!" 

Priest 

"  Kin-teotl  was  born  from  the  water, 
he  came  as  a  mortal,  as  a  youth, 
from  the  cerulean  home  of  the 
fishes,  an  ever  new,  glorious  god! 

He  shone  as  the  sun;  his  mother 
dwelt  in  the  House  of  the  Dawn!" 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


THE  PRAYER  OF  THE  MAIZE 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


Kin-teotl 

"I  come  forth  on  the  earth — even 
to  the  market  place  like  a  mortal 
— even  I — great  and  glorious! 

Be  ye  happy  under  the  flower  bush 
varied  in  hue  as  the  quetzal  bird; 
Listen  to  the  quechol  singing  to 
the  gods!  Listen  to  the  singing 
of  the  quechol  along  the  river: — 
hear  its  flute  along  the  river  in 
the  home  of  the  reeds!" 

(The  flutes  sound  the  call  of  the  birds 
as  Kin-teotl  disappears  in  the  temple 
followed  by  the  devotees) 

Priest 

"Ai! — would  that  my  altar  flowers 
would  cease  from  dying!  Our 
flesh  is  as  flowers — even  as  flowers 
in  the  place  of  the  flowers. 

She  goes  to  the  mart!  As  goddess 
they  carry  her  to  the  mart!  She 
speaks  at  Cholula — she  startles 
my  heart!  She  startles  my  heart! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


THE  PRAYER  OF  THE  MAIZE 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


"Ai !  for  joy  the  high  priest  is  there 
at  her  shrine!  Where  merchants 
sell  the  ear  rings  of  green  jade,  she 
is  to  be  seen  by  men  —  in  the 
Place  of  Wonders  she  is  to  be 
seen! 

Sleep,  sleep,  sleep !  I  fold  my  hands 
to  sleep ! 

I,  O  Woman!— sleep!" 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


HYMN  TO  CIHUA-COATL 

(Mexican) 


(Cihua-coatI,  mythic,  mother  of  earth-born  people) 


SERPENT  Woman,  plumed  with 
eagle  feathers,  with  the  crest  of 
eagles,  comes,  beating  her  drum, 
from  the  Place  of  the  Old. 

She  alone,  who  is  our  flesh,  goddess 
of  the  fields  and  shrubs,  is  strong 
to  support  us. 

Our  mother  is  as  twelve  eagles,  god- 
dess of  drums  calling  the  gods, 
filling  the  fields. 

She  is  our  mother — a  goddess  of  war, 
our  mother,  a  companion  from 
the  Home  of  Ancestors. 

She  comes  forth,  she  appears  when 
war  is  waged,  she  protects  us  in 
war  that  we  be  not  destroyed — 
an  example  and  companion  from 
the  Home  of  the  Ancestors. 

She  comes  adorned  in  the  ancient 
manner  with  the  eagle's  crest, — 
in  the  ancient  manner  with  the 
eagle's  crest! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


PRAYER    TO    THE    GOD     OF 
THIEVES 

(South  Pacific  Island) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


OTHOU  divine  Outre-reter ! 
We  go  out  for  plunder. 
Cause   all   things   to   sleep    in    the 

house. 

Owner  of  the  house,  sleep  on! 
Threshold  of  the  house,  sleep  on! 
Little  insects  of  the  house,  sleep  on! 
Central  -  post,    ridge  -  pole,    rafters, 

thatch  of  the  house,  sleep  on! 
O  Kongo,  grant  us  success! 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


INVOCATION  TO  ORMAZD 

(Persian) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


IN  THE  name  of  God,  the  giver, 
forgiver,  rich  in  love,  praise  be 
to  the  name  of  Ormazd,  the  God 
with  the  name  who  always  was, 
always  is,  and  always  will  be;  the 
heavenly  among  the  heavenly,  with 
the  name — "From  whom  alone  is 
derived  rule." 

With  all  strength  bring  I  thanks. 

All  good  do  I  accept  at  thy  com- 
mand O  God,  and  think,  and  speak, 
and  do  it.  I  believe  in  the  pure 
law;  by  every  good  work  seek  I  for- 
giveness for  all  sins.  I  keep  pure 
the  six  powers — thought,  speech, 
work,  memory,  mind  and  under- 
standing. According  to  thy  will 
am  I  able  to  accomplish.  O  accom- 
plisher  of  good,  thy  honor,  with 
good  thoughts,  good  works. 

I  enter  on  the  shining  way  to 
Paradise;  may  the  fearful  terror  of 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


INVOCATION  TO  ORMAZD 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


hell  not  overcome  me!  May  I  step 
over  the  bridge  Chinevat.  May  I 
attain  Paradise  with  mijch  perfume, 
and  all  brightness. 

Praise  be  to  the  Overseer,  the 
Lord,  who  rewards  those  who  ac- 
complish good  deeds  according  to 
his  own  wish,  and  at  last  purifies 
even  the  wicked  ones  of  hell. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


MOHAMMEDAN   PRAYER  OF 
ADORATION 

(Persian) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


SOUL  of  the  Soul! 
Neither  thought  nor  reason  com- 
prehend thy  essence,  and  no  one 
knows  thy  attributes. 

Souls  have  no  idea  of  thy  being. 
The  prophets  themselves  sink  in 
the  dust  of  thy  road. 

Although  intellect  exists  by  thee, 
has  it  ever  yet  found  the  path  of 
thy  existence? 

0  thou,  who  art  in  the  interior  and 
in  the  exterior  of  the  soul !    Thou 
art  and  thou  art  not  that  which 
I  say. 

In  thy  presence  reason  grows  dizzy; 
it  loses  the  thread  that  would 
direct  it  in  thy  way. 

1  perceive  clearly  the  universe  in 
thee,  and  yet  discover  thee  not 
in  the  world. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


MOHAMMEDAN    PRAYER    OF 
ADORATION 

(Continued) 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


All  beings  are  marked  with  thy  im- 
press, but  thyself  hast  no  impress 
visible; 

Thou  reservest  the  secret  of  thine 
existence. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


AN  INCA'S  DEATH  PRAYER 

(Peruvian) 


PAGAN      PRAYERS 


O  CREATOR  of  men 
Thy  servant  speaks. 
Then  look  on  him 
The  king  of  Cusco. 

Do  not  forget  me 

O  thou  noble  creator. 

O  thou  of  my  dreams. 

Dost  thou  forget 

And  I  on  the  point  of  death  ? 

Wilt  thou  ignore  my  prayer 

Or  wilt  thou  make  known 

Who  thou  art  ? 

Thou  mayest  be  what  I  thought, 

Yet  perchance  thou  art  a  phantom, 

A  thing  that  causes  fear. 

Oh,  if  I  might  know ! 

Oh,  if  it  could  be  revealed ! 

Thou  who  made  me  out  of  earth, 

And  of  clay  formed  me. 

Oh  look  upon  me ! 

Who  art  thou,  O  Creator? 

Now  I  am  very  old. 


PAGAN      PRAYERS 


HYMN  TO  THE  UNKNOWN 
GOD 

(Peruvian) 


PAGAN      PRAYERS 


O  RULER !   Lord  of  the  universe, 
Whether  thou  art  male, 
Whether  thou  art  female, 
Lord  of  reproduction 
Wherever  thou  mayest  be! 
O  Lord  of  divination 
Where  art  thou  ? 
Thou  mayest  be  above, 
Thou  mayest  be  below, 
Or  perhaps  around 
Thy  splendid  throne  and  sceptre. 
O  hear  me! 
From  the  sky  above, 
In  which  thou  mayest  be, 
From  the  sea  beneath 
In  which  thou  mayest  be. 
Creator  of  the  world, 
Maker  of  all  men; 
Lord  of  all  Lords 
My  eyes  fail  me  for  longing  to  see 

thee 
For  the  sole  desire  to  know  thee. 


PAGAN     PRAYERS 


HYMN  TO  THE  UNKNOWN 
GOD 

(Continued) 


PAGAN      PRAYERS 


O  look  down  upon  me 

For  thou  knowest  me. 

The  sun — the  moon — 

The  day — the  night — 

Spring — winter, 

Are  not  ordained  in  vain 

By  thee,  O  Deity! 

They  all  travel 

To  the  assigned  place ; 

They  all  arrive 

At  their  destined  ends 

Whithersoever  thou  pleasest. 

Thy  royal  sceptre 

Thou  holdest. 

O  hear  me! 

O  choose  me! 

Let  it  not  be 

That  I  should  tire, 

That  I  should  die! 


PAGAN      PRAYERS 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Apache  Prayer,  from  The  North  American 
Indian,  by  special  permission  of  Edward 
S.  Curtis. 

A  partial  list  of  the  other  scholars  and 
works  to  whom  the  compiler  is  indebted: 

Daniel  G.  Brinton,  Rig  Veda  Americana. 
Franfoise   Lenormant,   La  Magie  chez  les 

Chald/es. 

F.  Max  Muller,  Physical  Religion. 
Washington  Matthews,  Navajo  Legends. 
Sir  Clements  Markham,  Incas  of  Peru. 
Records  of  the  Past. 
Bernardino  de  Sahagun,  Historia  de  las  cosas 

de  la  Nueva  Espana. 
A.  H.  Sayce,  Babylonian  Exorcism. 
H.  Fox  Talbot,  Biblical  Archaeology. 
The  Egyptian  Book  of  the  Dead. 
The  Kalevala. 
The  Zend  Avesta. 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

Return  this  material  to  the  library 

from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


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A    000035616    2 


